Executives from rival technology companies Dell and HP spoke out against Apple this week, with a Dell executive predicting that the iPad will fail, while an HP executive criticized Apple's relationships with its partners.

iPad fail?

Andy Lark, Dell's global head of marketing, told Lisa Banks of CIO Australia on Tuesday that Apple's iPad will eventually succumb to Dell's Android- and Windows-based tablets because of pressure from an open enterprise market.

Lark congratulated Apple for igniting the tablet opportunity with the iPad, while predicting that the device will ultimately fall to more "open" competitors. I couldnt be happier that Apple has created a market and built up enthusiasm but longer term, open, capable and affordable will win, not closed, high price and proprietary, Lark said. [Apple has] done a really nice job, theyve got a great product, but the challenge theyve got is that already Android is outpacing them.

"Apple is great if youve got a lot of money and live on an island. Its not so great if you have to exist in a diverse, open, connected enterprise; simple things become quite complex, Lark added.

According to Lark, the high cost of additional accessories for the iPad makes the tablet inaccessible. An iPad with a keyboard, a mouse and a case [means] youll be at $1500 or $1600; thats double of what youre paying," he said. "Thats not feasible.

Lark's figures, however, are confusing, as it is unlikely that a keyboard, mouse and case would cost the same as an iPad. For instance, purchasing Apple's leather Smart Cover, BlueTooth keyboard and Magic Mouse would cost just $207.

The executive went on to indicate that Dell's long-term approach to tablets relies heavily on enterprise adoption. "Weve taken a very considered approach to tablets, given that the vast majority of our business isnt in the consumer space, he said.

However, Dell is hedging its bets when it comes to tablet operating systems. Our strategy is multi-OS," Lark said. "We will do Windows 7 coupled with Android Honeycomb, and were really excited. We think that giving people that choice is very important.

The PC maker has struggled to gain a foothold with its 5-inch Dell Streak 'tweener' smartphone and tablet. In December, Journalist Walt Mossberg called out the device as last year's worst-reviewed product.

Dell has begun showing off a 10-inch tablet that will compete with the iPad later this year.

HP focus

Promoting the future of its webOS, Stephen DeWitt, senior vice president of HP's Americas Solution Partners, criticized Apple on Monday for its poor relationship with its partners.

"Apple's relationship with partners is transactional, completely. Apple doesnt have an inclusive philosophy of partner capabilities, and that's just absurd," DeWitt said in an interview with CRN's Kevin McLaughlin at HP's Americas Partner Conference in Las Vegas.

McLaughlin checked with several Apple and HP channel partners to test DeWitt's claims. "Unlike Apple, HP is very channel friendly. And if you have an issue with HP you can pick up the phone and talk to someone. That's something that's impossible with Apple. As an Apple partner, I can say that it really feels like they're holding you hostage sometimes," said one source from a solution provider.

Another source, however, was skeptical of HP's ability to compete against Apple and Google with webOS. "I don't hear much about webOS in the marketplace, and it's going to be tough to build a mobility practice around it," said one HP partner. "Apple and Android are the two established marketplaces out there. On the tablet side, why wouldn't you just get an iPad?"

HP has committed to an effectively all-in bet with webOS, a "prized asset" which the company acquired when it purchased Palm last year. Executives at HP, including former Palm CEO Jon Rubinstein, have indicated their plans to "double down" on the operating system.

Last month, HP unveiled a TouchPad tablet and a Pre 3 smartphone in an effort to catch up to Apple in the mobile space.

What all these execs miss... Is that the iPod, iPad, and iPhone are gateway products for future mac users. With the App store success and being able to transfer back and forth with Microsoft office, and more specialty software coming back to the Mac (cough) AutoCad. A PC is no more a need based on software or price.

I think they are trying to scare the consumer to avoid apple and a defined to 'fail' platform, but in the end will shoot themselves in the foot. It's been said before and I'll say it again "the tablet is an experience, not a who's running the most ghz,"

I am left speechless. I can't believe the nerve of Dell and HP.
Dell is nothing but a garage pc company gone wild and HP is nothing but an over priced ink supplier with designed to fail printers. Yeah , the latter is is true true true. My jobs spends over $600.00 a month buying ink for the crap HP laser jet M2727nf that has, like clock work, gone bye bye.STOPPED WORKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
In the past 11 months we spent $6600.00 on ink and the printer cost $500.00. What an effing rip-off!!!!!!!!!!!
Screw them.

According to Lark, the high cost of additional accessories for the iPad makes the tablet inaccessible. “An iPad with a keyboard, a mouse and a case [means] you’ll be at $1500 or $1600; that’s double of what you’re paying," he said. "That’s not feasible.”

That must be some real good shit that those Dell dudes are smoking. I wish I had some of that.

That picture of the "TouchPad" tablet is ridonkulous----just because they throw a bad Apple-esque reflection on it, and give it an imitative name of iPad does not make it worth competing with iPad.

What happened to calling these tablets "___Slates?" Oh right, ever since Apple went with iPad as the name for their tablet instead of "iSlate," all these Apple wannabes followed suit with naming their vaporware __Pads.

He’s absolutely right. Look at closed game platforms from Nintento, Sony and Microsoft. Nobody wants ‘em! People want the “open” buzzword, and all the limitations it brings. They don’t want simplicity or reliability or choice of apps.

And of course Bluetooth keyboards magically cost less if you can prove you own a Honeycomb tablet. Now, iPad mice, on the other hand... those are without price!

Look who is giving Apple advice on how sell computers and make profit. They are so worried about Apple doomed future

Quote:

"Apple is great if you’ve got a lot of money and live on an island. It’s not so great if you have to exist in a diverse, open, connected enterprise; simple things become quite complex,” Lark added.

According to Lark, the high cost of additional accessories for the iPad makes the tablet inaccessible. “An iPad with a keyboard, a mouse and a case [means] you’ll be at $1500 or $1600; that’s double of what you’re paying," he said. "That’s not feasible.”

I don't really get how the Dell guy can say this stuff with a straight face.

They are ANNOUNCING products, which are more expensive, and not as good as the original iPad, to be released several months after the second version of the iPad is already selling out...And they still make these claims?

I can sympathesize with the HP guy though, who is accurate about Apple's poor partnering, although Apple has, and is making, huge strides in this area.

Dell was the reason I left the PC market ! Dell computers are the biggest piece of garbage you can buy not only are you replacing batteries every 5-6 mos the computer will take 20-30 mins to even find ur wifi. I think Dell is in a panic and are just bluffing their way through what they prob. Think is an apple phase till they realize people know Dell systems are junk and would rather spend the $ on something worth their while. I HATE DELL! I. Have been completely happy with my iPhone 4, iPad 2, MacBook and AppleTV!

Lark said. “[Apple has] done a really nice job, they’ve got a great product, but the challenge they’ve got is that already Android is outpacing them.

It’s so odd that they are comparing a complete product to a free OS. Vendors that use Android have to first compete with all other tablets that use Android for the top position. yet a company that makes it’s money from HW sales is expressing some sort of unity with other Android using vendors? Good luck with that, Andy.

Quote:

"Apple is great if you’ve got a lot of money and live on an island. It’s not so great if you have to exist in a diverse, open, connected enterprise; simple things become quite complex,” Lark added.

Maybe he can’t see the forest for the trees because they’re all Apple tress.

Quote:

According to Lark, the high cost of additional accessories for the iPad makes the tablet inaccessible. “An iPad with a keyboard, a mouse and a case [means] you’ll be at $1500 or $1600; that’s double of what you’re paying," he said. "That’s not feasible.”

Lark's figures, however, are confusing, as it is unlikely that a keyboard, mouse and case would cost the same as an iPad. For instance, purchasing Apple's leather Smart Cover, BlueTooth keyboard and Magic Mouse would cost just $207.

$829 for 64GB 3G iPad + $207 for accessories that oddly include a mouse = $1036, about 50-60% cheaper than he claims.

Quote:

The executive went on to indicate that Dell's long-term approach to tablets relies heavily on enterprise adoption. "We’ve taken a very considered approach to tablets, given that the vast majority of our business isn’t in the consumer space,” he said.

However, Dell is hedging its bets when it comes to tablet operating systems. “…Our strategy is multi-OS," Lark said. "We will do Windows 7 coupled with Android Honeycomb, and we’re really excited. We think that giving people that choice is very important.”

Someone’s reading from RiM’s playbook.. literally.

Quote:

The PC maker has struggled to gain a foothold with its 5-inch Dell Streak 'tweener' smartphone and tablet. In December, Journalist Walt Mossberg called out the device as last year's worst reviewed product.

I usually don’t intimate these nitpicks but that reads as the review of the Dell Streak was the worst, not the product itself.

In December, Journalist Walt Mossberg reviewed the device as last year's worst product.

Quote:

Dell has begun showing off a 10-inch tablet that will compete with the iPad later this year.

With sincerity... good luck, Dell.

Quote:

McLaughlin checked with several Apple and HP channel partners to test DeWitt's claims. "Unlike Apple, HP is very channel friendly. And if you have an issue with HP you can pick up the phone and talk to someone. That's something that's impossible with Apple. As an Apple partner, I can say that it really feels like they're holding you hostage sometimes," said one source from a solution provider.

This should read…

”Unlike [HP], [Apple] is very [customer] friendly. And if you have an issue with [Apple] you can pick up the phone and talk to someone[, or simply walk into an Apple Store]. That's something that's impossible with [HP]. As an [HP/Windows customer], I can say that it really feels like they're holding you hostage sometimes,"

The take away here is that no matter where these guys go everyone is using Apple’s products as the zenith product. They have no choice but to talk about Apple even if it means pooh-poohing them with strawman arguments.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

The iPad is the least expensive tablet on the market. Also, the cost of the iPad, keyboard, mouse and case are not $1500. That's completely false. The cost of the keyboard dock is $70. The case is $50. As a side note, who uses a mouse for the iPad?

Also, one of the adjectives Lark used for enterprise is "open." Enterprise is anything but. Also, Windows is not an "open" platform, at least it wasn't last time I checked.

All this talk about "choice" is nothing but bravado. Dell builds devices for many different platforms like Android and Windows, but it's not out of some noble goal of giving people a "choice." It makes perfect sense for Dell to diversify its product line. Similarly, Samsung and HTC build WP7 phones as well as Android phones, and they've even come out with their own rudimentary OS to hedge their bets.

It seems like this guy's remarks were designed to just stir the pot. His company is releasing a tablet, so in order to draw attention to his new offering, he decided to vilify Apple for being "closed" and "high-priced," and that his company's product is a better offering to people who don't like Apple's policies. Seems like he took a page out of Jim Balsille's (RIM) playbook (no pun intended)...

Either that or Dell is still pissed that Steve Jobs wouldn't let them build a Mac computer.

Dell was the reason I left the PC market ! Dell computers are the biggest piece of garbage you can buy not only are you replacing batteries every 5-6 mos the computer will take 20-30 mins to even find ur wifi. I think Dell is in a panic and are just bluffing their way through what they prob. Think is an apple phase till they realize people know Dell systems are junk and would rather spend the $ on something worth their while. I HATE DELL! I. Have been completely happy with my iPhone 4, iPad 2, MacBook and AppleTV!

I agree with you.
When I am on call I bring a dell laptop home, it takes 5 min 11 secs to boot up, I know because I timed it on my iPhone stop watch. t takes only a couple of minutes less to turn it off.
My MBP takes about 40 secs and my G4 (about 10 years old) takes about 20 secs on average.
The dell is a plastic piece of SHIT, it is not even worth driving a huge truck over it.
Its disgusting, how any one can make, sell and buy this utter garbage is beyond me, but good luck to them. Don't complain later on with the shitty experience.

I guess Dell and HP executives have never had to pick up the phone and call someone from their support department. If I have a problem with my MacBook, I make an appointment at the bar and I get to talk to a live person that is very knowledgable.

I don't really get how the Dell guy can say this stuff with a straight face.

They are ANNOUNCING products, which are more expensive, and not as good as the original iPad, to be released several months after the second version of the iPad is already selling out...And they still make these claims?

I can sympathesize with the HP guy though, who is accurate about Apple's poor partnering, although Apple has, and is making, huge strides in this area.

These dolts are really in an impossible position... LOL!... They probably look at the crap their product development department brings to them and they shriek.

What all these execs miss... Is that the iPod, iPad, and iPhone are gateway products for future mac users. With the App store success and being able to transfer back and forth with Microsoft office, and more specialty software coming back to the Mac (cough) AutoCad. A PC is no more a need based on software or price.

I think they are trying to scare the consumer to avoid apple and a defined to 'fail' platform, but in the end will shoot themselves in the foot. It's been said before and I'll say it again "the tablet is an experience, not a who's running the most ghz,"

Delusional is right!

Dell / HP just don't get it. I was previously (before the iPhone 1) never interested in ANY APPLE product, mainly due to the price and secondly due to being a "hater", etc. I always loved the touch screen phones a few years back and bought what I thought was the best in the market at the time --- the Palm Treo (haha, joke back in 2005/2006) based on a friend's recommendation that it was a nice touch screen phone. I hated it with passion as all it did was freeze non stop. I loved the iPhone when it came out and have bought every iPhone update since. I also plan to buy every iPhone upgrade as soon as they are released. I just purchased the iPad 2 on release date and the other day a MacBook Pro. I will never go back to anything related to Palm - just dont care how much webOS has improved, etc - mainly because Apple just works and is easy to use.

However, I'm still a PC user. Still currently using Win7 on a custom rig, AMD 6 core, overclocked, and a few other things spec related. I love the specs of my machine. I'm all about specs... but Apple has made me a convert. Will look into building a hackintosh down the road.

Honestly, the clowns running HP & Dell can go F#!k themselves. Seriously. How many DECADES did these has-beens have to develop the tablet industry and pave the way for future computing?

Instead, they totally blew it. They are hardware manufacturers that have no other model outside of doing whatever it takes to sell the next landfill-product.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

"Apple is great if you’ve got a lot of money and live on an island. It’s not so great if you have to exist in a diverse, open, connected enterprise; simple things become quite complex,” Lark added.

That's right Biff. Going your route like we all did for the past few decades in the "open" world, outside of the "walled garden" was really easy for the regular consumer once you compensate for all the huge amount of time lost dealing with viruses, malware, trojans, anti-virus, security holes, and general instabilities of those "open" systems.

You jerk-offs are just biting your fingernails with the thought that the consumer is beginning to wisen-up and place your gravy-train hardware-sales, support & services in jeopardy. Your chest-thumping insights just proves that even now, you don't have even a remote clue why Apple is b!tch-slapping you so well. These dinosaurs are piling on top of each other and ready to be turned to coal.

Good riddance to the PC-paradigm. I'll just enjoy watching all the android-shops competing for scraps while Apple gets the gravy by giving the consumer exactly what they were looking for.

It's business as usual then. Spread some FUD around to try to put doubt in the customers mind. All companies including Apple adopt this strategy at one point or another.

Of course, in this instance, Dell are waaay out of their depth and HP are desperate to get a foothold to claw back their 1.2 billion dollars after buying Palm. I do expect HP to be successful in the tablet and smartphone Market but expect Dell to again fail miserably.